Elena Rybakina is hoping to regain momentum this week at the Canadian Open in Toronto after a series of below-par results on the Tour in recent weeks.
The reigning Australian Open champion has only managed to win back-to-back matches in one of her last four tournaments, at Wimbledon, where she reached the third round before suffering a surprise loss to Elise Mertens. Rybakina’s lull followed a strong start to 2026, during which she reached three WTA finals in the first four months, winning both the Australian Open and the Stuttgart Open. She was also runner-up at Indian Wells and a semi-finalist in Miami.
“Clay and grass didn’t go the way I wanted,” Rybakina admitted during her pre-tournament press conference in Toronto.
“We’d been practicing well, but in the matches I couldn’t show much.
“I’m looking forward to this hard court season, and hopefully it’s going to be much better.”
Rybakina is a two-time semi-finalist at the Canadian Open, with both of those results occurring when the event was held in Montreal. The tournament alternates between Montreal and Toronto every year. Leading up to her latest campaign, she took a brief break from the sport to recharge. The last time she played a Tour-level match was on July 4th.
“I spent five days on the beach just relaxing, not doing much,” she said.
“Then I went back to my base and started slowly preparing, but five, six days I definitely enjoyed it.
“I also stayed for a few days in London after I lost (at Wimbledon). It’s been a good time, and hopefully a good preparation for this hard court season.”
There is also an extra incentive for Rybakina, who could exit Canada as the new world No.1. For this to happen, Aryna Sabalenka needs to lose before the round of 16 and she has to win the title.
Rybakina faces Daria Kasatkina in her opening match.
